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George Scithers, probably best known as the founding editor of Analog’s sibling publication Asimov’s (originally called Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine), died at age 80 on April 19 2010, following a heart attack on April 17. Educated at the United States Military Academy and Stanford University (M.Sc. in military engineering), he became prominent in science fiction and fantasy circles well before Asimov’s as the editor of the Hugo award-winning fanzine Amra.
As the first editor of Asimov’s, from its inception in 1977 until 1982, he plunged in with a clear vision of a magazine with a distinctive character including healthy doses of humor and solid plotting, discovering and developing such new writers as Barry B. Longyear and Somtow Sucharitkul, and quickly leading the newcomer into the top ranks of science fiction magazines. He won two Hugo awards and several nominations as Best Professional Editor, as well as two World Fantasy awards, and was fan guest of honor at the 2001 World Science Fiction Convention. After leaving Asimov’s, he edited Amazing Stories from 1982 to 1986, and (with Darrell Schweitzer and John Betancourt) revived and edited Weird Tales from 1987 to 2007. He also wrote several memorable stories of his own, edited anthologies, and founded Owlswick Press and the Owlswick Agency.
He will be missed by many both for himself and for his varied and important contributions to the field.
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